P71_CrownVic Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 GOTHENBURG, Sweden (Reuters) - The destruction of the orange sedan with its slapdash paintwork may have been intentional but it was far from wanton. It was all part of Volvo's bid to create an injury-proof car by 2020. While that vehicle of the future may lack the self-awareness of the crime-fighting Trans Am in 1980s TV series Knight Rider, experts say it will be able to steer, brake and find out about the road ahead from within a vast electronic bumper. And if all goes according to plan, its driver and passengers will escape even the most serious crash unhurt. Volvo is far from the only player in what Claes Tingvall, the Swedish road administration's head of traffic safety, calls the biggest revolution in the auto industry since the seatbelt. Automakers, parts suppliers, governments and global agencies from the United Nations to the OECD are all looking at ways to relegate to memory the roughly 1.2 million deaths and 50 million injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes each year. But in what some analysts see as a bid to hold its lead in consumer perceptions of safety, the Swedish carmaker now owned by Ford is the first to set a target date to eliminate death and injury in its cars. "I think if you look into the future, we as a community will not accept that we have injuries," said Jan Ivarsson, leader of the Volvo safety team with specialists in everything from biomechanics to engineering to behavioral science. "We have other things that are important in life." While Volvo is working on pedestrian safety as well, the 2020 goal centers on those inside its vehicles. Tingvall, who is a force behind the Swedish government's own plan to stop traffic deaths through better infrastructure, doubts Volvo's target is fully achievable but said even a tenfold reduction in injury rates would yield dramatic benefits. Borrowing principles from industries like aviation, the matrix of systems Volvo and other carmakers are working on will interact to start crash prevention and mitigation hours, rather than milliseconds, before impact. CREATIVE DESTRUCTION Which brings us back to the orange sedan, its nose crushed pug-small after powering down a tunnel at 35 miles an hour into an 850-tonne steel-encased block, at what analysts say is one of the most advanced crash-test centers in the world. The Gothenburg complex's moveable crash block and two 150-meter tunnels, including the only rotating test tunnel in the industry, allow Volvo to simulate everything from a head-on smash into a bus stop to a 90-degree vehicle-to-vehicle impact. The rotating tunnel can also reverse and shoot a car outside, into the rock face or the pond behind the center. As with many of the 400 crashes staged there each year, the test of a new engine configuration on the orange S80 -- orange shows up well on video -- took two weeks to set up, will take another two to analyze and was over in a 10th of a second. It was filmed from all angles, including a glass-topped pit below, while sensors and painted rulers on the car, crash block and dummies yielded scores of measurements. Volvo's Ivarsson said the two male biomechanical measurement devices -- we know them as crash-test dummies -- would have walked off, if they could, with little more than bruises and broken ribs from what was by any gauge a significant smash. Still, crash tests are only part of the puzzle. The 20-member safety team also gathers real-world data from governments, insurance firms and, with a crash-site unit on 24-7 call, conducts its own field investigations into the causes of collisions and how they could have been prevented. BRAND SHAKE-UP Christian Mueller, industry consultant at analysis firm Global Insight, believes Volvo needs the tonic of the 2020 goal. The Swedish carmaker once sat comfortably at safety's apex. Besides the three-point seatbelt invented by its then head of safety in the late 1950s, the firm also pioneered crumple zones, side impact air bags and rear-facing child seats. It became emblematic of the U.S. "soccer mom" of the 1990s, who sought the steel cage to keep her children secure, and of Europe's middle class who liked its solid predictability. As recently as January, some 77 percent of U.S. consumers polled by Consumer Reports ranked Volvo as the safest car brand. "No other brand dominates a category the way safety is owned by Volvo," said Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports deputy online auto editor and author of the car brand perception survey. But other carmakers have learned safety sells and are burnishing their own safe credentials, leaving Volvo with what Mueller calls a "huge" brand perception problem. "Being safe is not any more the outstanding quality of Volvo because I can go elsewhere and I can buy a car that's equally as safe," he said. There are signs this is getting through to consumers. A survey this year of German drivers by magazine Auto Motor und Sport gave Mercedes the edge on safety, although polls by partner magazines in France, Spain and Italy put Volvo on top. "I think the competition must certainly be felt by Volvo but clearly they're aiming to hold onto this lead in brand perception," Bartlett said. The automaker already offers ignitions that won't operate if a driver is intoxicated, sensors that assess alertness and sound an alarm if the driver is dozy or drifting, and Global Positioning Systems to help prevent drivers from rushing to their destinations. Should all this fail to avert a crash, the car takes steps such as tightening its seat belts and priming air bags to minimize injury. The car of the future will have even more foresight. Radar, sonar and other sensors will extend its so-called "deformation zone" until it becomes, in essence, a huge electronic bumper reaching out on all sides to gather information to feed back to the vehicle. In a crash situation, where many drivers freeze, the car will be able to take over and steer or brake on its own. Reducing pre-impact speed by 15 km an hour would halve the road-death rate, according to Tingvall, so self-braking is key. In the very long run, Volvo's Ivarsson said, we may all drive the ultimate vehicle: the uncrashable car. "If you have a really long perspective, I think we will not have vehicles that will crash in the future," he said. "You and I, in the future, we won't accept that. Why should we accept that?" :reading: Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron W. Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Volvo's Ivarsson said, we may all drive the ultimate vehicle: the uncrashable car. If people are involved it's crashable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I am a wizzard: Heading: "Ford's 2020 vision: The injury-proof car" P71_CrownVic's reaction "Idiots this is the kind of thinking that is killing Ford. This is why they think RWD is too dangerous. I have driven my CV through blizzards without a hint of a problem. It it such a great car. Just downsize it and make it into a compact, and mid size. you will make a ton of money - the engineering is already paid for. This thinking will jsut bring about more dull D3 sedans with FWD, boring engines, and ton of airbags and electronic nannies. Who needs that - give my CV and I am happy. The car is so safe I am surprised Ford managed to build it - but it just shows - they are too stupid to keep it alive. If only they advertised it, even just once, people would know of the qualities of CV and buy a million of them - and because it is all paid for - 100% of the purchase price is profit. Just watch 2 months after Ford kills CV, Gm will release a BOF RWD sedan and make a killing - because they are smart - anyone but Ford is smart. They should exhume the guy that designed Panthers and let HIM run the company ......." OH NO!!! But it is Volvo in the title ... and what do we get?!?! ... YUP! Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 I am a wizzard: Heading: "Ford's 2020 vision: The injury-proof car" P71_CrownVic's reaction "Idiots this is the kind of thinking that is killing Ford. This is why they think RWD is too dangerous. I have driven my CV through blizzards without a hint of a problem. It it such a great car. Just downsize it and make it into a compact, and mid size. you will make a ton of money - the engineering is already paid for. This thinking will jsut bring about more dull D3 sedans with FWD, boring engines, and ton of airbags and electronic nannies. Who needs that - give my CV and I am happy. The car is so safe I am surprised Ford managed to build it - but it just shows - they are too stupid to keep it alive. If only they advertised it, even just once, people would know of the qualities of CV and buy a million of them - and because it is all paid for - 100% of the purchase price is profit. Just watch 2 months after Ford kills CV, Gm will release a BOF RWD sedan and make a killing - because they are smart - anyone but Ford is smart. They should exhume the guy that designed Panthers and let HIM run the company ......." OH NO!!! But it is Volvo in the title ... and what do we get?!?! ... YUP! Igor No it would put him out of a job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 (edited) No it would put him out of a job ROFL - I completely ignored that angle P!! You should be PISSED - and YES for that I agree with you - IT IS time to get rid of them - robbing good hard working US citizens of their EMS jobs you should start a boycott - www.boycottford.com - you'll fit right in. Igor Edited May 1, 2008 by igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 From P71's post: The automaker already offers ignitions that won't operate if a driver is intoxicated, sensors that assess alertness and sound an alarm if the driver is dozy or drifting, and Global Positioning Systems to help prevent drivers from rushing to their destinations. You sure wouldn't ever want to rush anywhere, that would be dangerous, but what happens if you want to get there quickly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 From P71's post: You sure wouldn't ever want to rush anywhere, that would be dangerous, but what happens if you want to get there quickly? You will get a ticket mailed to you. Big Brother is watching. You may want to invest in this insurance: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353540,00.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SVT_MAN Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 You will get a ticket mailed to you. Big Brother is watching. You may want to invest in this insurance: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353540,00.html To me, it's scary that drivers out there are conned into paying for tickets they may or may not receive. I don't see how it is peace of mind. You have to be a pretty terrible driver to get 7 non-speeding moving violations per year. It scares me that there are others on the road who are that terrible (and that unlucky to get caught .. I mean 7 times?!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 (edited) You will get a ticket mailed to you. Big Brother is watching. You may want to invest in this insurance: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353540,00.html They're really tough on speeding in Australia, speed cameras everywhere! - 2 to 10mph over is 3 demerit points and $180 fine. - 11 to 25 mph over is 4 demerit points and $250 fine, a second time in 12 months and it's double demerit points. If you accrue more than 12 demerit points in any 3 year period you have to show cause why your open licence shouldn't be revoked. Usually a provisional licence, 12 month 4 points ensues, lose that and you can then play double or nothing for 3 months suspension or 12 months on one demerit point. Fail that one and it's a mandatory 6 month walk. They're tough on alcohol, the boose busses lock up whole rows of cars and test everyone - over 0.05% and you're gone! Edited May 2, 2008 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P71_CrownVic Posted May 2, 2008 Author Share Posted May 2, 2008 I am a wizzard: Heading: "Ford's 2020 vision: The injury-proof car" P71_CrownVic's reaction "Idiots this is the kind of thinking that is killing Ford. This is why they think RWD is too dangerous. I have driven my CV through blizzards without a hint of a problem. It it such a great car. Just downsize it and make it into a compact, and mid size. you will make a ton of money - the engineering is already paid for. This thinking will jsut bring about more dull D3 sedans with FWD, boring engines, and ton of airbags and electronic nannies. Who needs that - give my CV and I am happy. The car is so safe I am surprised Ford managed to build it - but it just shows - they are too stupid to keep it alive. If only they advertised it, even just once, people would know of the qualities of CV and buy a million of them - and because it is all paid for - 100% of the purchase price is profit. Just watch 2 months after Ford kills CV, Gm will release a BOF RWD sedan and make a killing - because they are smart - anyone but Ford is smart. They should exhume the guy that designed Panthers and let HIM run the company ......." OH NO!!! But it is Volvo in the title ... and what do we get?!?! ... YUP! Igor You really are an ignorant little twit. No it would put him out of a job You really are an ignorant little twit. ROFL - I completely ignored that angle P!! You should be PISSED - and YES for that I agree with you - IT IS time to get rid of them - robbing good hard working US citizens of their EMS jobs you should start a boycott - www.boycottford.com - you'll fit right in. Igor See above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthewq4b Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 They're really tough on speeding in Australia, speed cameras everywhere! - 2 to 10mph over is 3 demerit points and $180 fine. - 11 to 25 mph over is 4 demerit points and $250 fine, a second time in 12 months and it's double demerit points. Wow that is nuts. We have speed cameras here. but you do no loose points for photo tickets. You just pay. and they do not even bother with you unless your more than 15KPH over the limit. Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Wow that is nuts. We have speed cameras here. but you do no loose points for photo tickets. You just pay. and they do not even bother with you unless your more than 15KPH over the limit. Matthew Our speed cameras used to be set at 12 over the limit. Now its 9. They're getting more strict. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 To me, it's scary that drivers out there are conned into paying for tickets they may or may not receive. I don't see how it is peace of mind. You have to be a pretty terrible driver to get 7 non-speeding moving violations per year. It scares me that there are others on the road who are that terrible (and that unlucky to get caught .. I mean 7 times?!). Eh, I dunno. The insurance covers ALL moving violations (other than those alcohol-related), including speeding. If you are a speed freak, I suppose it might come in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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